MLS# 192726

Jefferson City Tennessee

Jefferson City was originally named Mossy Creek. When new explorers arrived to the area there was vibrant green moss growing in the creek bed, so the area became known as Mossy Creek. One of the first families to settle in Mossy Creek was Adam and Elizabeth Sharkey Peck in 1788, and by 1797, between 75 and 100 families settled within a four mile radius of the town.
Water from the creek supplied power to most of the commercial development along the creek banks. Adam Peck built the first grist mill in 1795, and shortly after, Thomas Hume opened the first store. On November 21, 1816, the first post office was established at the old Mossy Creek Iron Works, where Willie Zount Peck was the postmaster.
During the first half of the 1800ís, the most popular occupation, other than farming, was lumbering. Many trees had to be moved at this time to make way for land cultivation. One of the three sawmills was operated by a Mr. Hayworth and was located at the mouth of the Holston River.
Mossy Creek received more attention with business and residents in the 1840ís due to the East Tennessee Railroad completion, zinc ore mining, and the beginning of the Mossy Creek Baptist Missionary Seminary.

After the Civil War and a few new additions were made to Mossy Creek, including the Yoe and Jefferson hotels, the first hardware store, and the Ingram Brotherís Barber Shop, Mossy Creek earned its new name. On February 7, 1901, Mossy Creek became Jefferson City due to the joining of two other communities, Carsonville on the south and Frame Addition on the west.
The first mayor of Jefferson City was W.T. Russell, a faculty member of the local college, Carson Newman College. Jefferson City made national news August 1, 1940 when work started on that day to build the Cherokee Dam. The entire project was completed in 1942.

Today, there are 7,760 people living in Jefferson City, according to the United States Census Bureau of 2000. The racial makeup consists of 90% White, 6% Black, and .08% Asian. Of the residents living in Jefferson City, 47% are male and 53% are female, with 19% being under the age of 18, 26% ages 18-24, 24% ages 25-44, 17% ages 45-64, and 14% are 65 years of age or older. The median income for a household in Jefferson City was close to $26,000 and $34,000 for a family.